Holographic check authentication article and method

ABSTRACT

A method of making a document, such as a check or stock certificate, having enhanced security against counterfeiting. The document includes a strip of foil having a three dimensional light diffracting image thereon affixed to the document. The strip of foil may be affixed to the document before or after the background printing or face printing of the document is completed. In this manner, the light diffracting strip may be printed on by the background and face printing of the document as desired.

This is a division of application Ser. No. 08/266,594, filed Jun. 28,1994, now U.S. Pat. No. 5,634,669, which is a CIP of Ser. No. 07/933,015filed Aug. 20, 1992, now abandoned, which is an FWC of Ser. No.07/685,405 filed Apr. 16, 1991 now abandoned.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The invention relates to a method of producing a document of paper,plastic or the like, such as a checks, currency, stock certificatedecal, or other documents of value which can be authenticated and hasenhanced protection against illegal copying, and to such a document.

2. Description of the Prior Art

No document of value exists which can completely avoid beingcounterfeited, nor will such a document ever likely exist. The entirehistory of efforts to thwart counterfeiting is of an effort to makecounterfeiting difficult, expensive and economically discouraging, notto make it impossible.

Many checks now in use have become bearer documents for which the beareris entitled to exchange cash. Traveller's checks are one prominentexample. As the number of checks in circulation continues to increase,and banks are forced to pay more quickly on ordinary checks, all checksare becoming to some extent bearer instruments as a practical matter.For these kinds of instruments the only tests for authenticity which arenormally possible are those which can be carried out by the person doingthe exchange, i.e., the bank teller, or cashier. The most important testhas always been, and will likely remain, visual observation of thedocument.

As the popularity of checks has increased so too the need forauthenticating checks has grown to crisis proportions. Armed with photocopiers and laser scanners, almost all the prior anti-alteration andanti-copying and authenticating devices have been eviscerated. Voidpop-outs no longer pop out. The basket weave background printing nolonger serves to prevent the color copier from creating virtuallyperfect copies of checks.

Intaglio printing which leaves distinctive ridges of ink on the paper isa popular anticounterfeiting technique, but is too expensive for use onevery day checks. Intaglio printing has instead been reserved fordocuments of limited application and where counterfeiting, ifaccomplished, would have profound consequences.

The industry is concerned that copying has gotten out of control. Somebanks, Barclay's for example, have adopted a hot stamped hologram ontheir check. The security of the hologram serves the purpose extremelywell. However, the intermittent stamping operation adds significant costto the check manufacturing process and is not economical (even grantedthe ballooning losses in the industry) for incorporation into the 50billion or so checks which clear the system in the United States eachyear.

Adding to the difficulties in providing secure checks are the rules andregulations for printing bank checks which have been refined over theyears. These rules are both exacting and intolerant. From the printer'spoint of view, the most significant consideration is probably the "clearband" an area at the bottom of the check where no extraneous ink may bevisible. It is in this clear area where the MICR (magnetic ink characterrecognition) numbers are printed and which determine the routing andeventual payment of the check. Whether a personal check, a corporate orbank check or a traveler's check, all have this clear area.

Placing on security documents images which are difficult to replicatehas been employed as one technique to make counterfeiting as difficultas possible. Most notably, small holographic image have been placed onplastic credit cards. These pieces are stamped from strips of foil onwhich holographic images have been "printed" or embossed by a stampingprocess.

These images are difficult to reproduce from a technical standpoint,although not necessarily expensive. The deterrent effect primarily isthat a successful counterfeiter must have not only a sophisticatedcapability in the printing arts, but an equal level in the holographicart. And of course, holographic works are very effective in facilitatingauthentication by visual inspection and cannot be successfullyreplicated using photocopy technology.

However, simply placing a piece of foil having a holographic imageembossed thereon on each check or placing a transparent layer over thecheck after printing is not an optimum solution. Cost is of paramountconcern, as is disrupting as little as possible the printing proceduresnow in effect. Moreover, the space on the front of a check is limited,and placement on the reverse side of the check may mean that the personaccepting the check may not inspect the strip.

Holograms have also been used on other documents. For example, U.S. Pat.Nos. 4,728,377 and 4,913,504 describe use of a hologram on documents.These U.S. patent documents are incorporated herein by reference theretoas background art.

Prior art FIG. 8 illustrates a conventional hot stamping holographicfoil 1 wherein a polyester carrier 2 is provided with a waxy releaselayer 3. Further a scuff coat 4 is provided between the waxy releaselayer and an embossment coat 5. The embossment coat 5 is embossed at 5a,then metalized at 5b and provided with a tie coat 6. An adhesive layer 7is then provided on the tie coat 6 for adhesion to a document orsubstrate (not shown).

Significantly, the American Bankers Association (ABA) has recognized theneed for security features to prevent fraud through the copying orcounterfeiting of checks. When addressing security features, the ABAstates "any security technique that will help prevent check fraud bycounterfeiters or copiers is desirable, as long as it does not impairthe processing characteristics of the document".

Significant to the security problems encountered with check productionand counterfeiting are the ABA rules, and the "American NationalStandard, Paper Specifications for Checks" which set forthspecifications governing the automation of bank operating procedures.The ABA/ANSI rules outline the dimensional specifications for theprinted image of the characters to be used, the type and form paper tobe used, horizontal and vertical field boundaries, minimum and maximumcheck sizes, and printing tolerances.

There are three primary considerations when adding a security feature toa roll of checks for security purposes: first, the ABA rules on checkprinting require a "clear band" extending along the bottom 5/8" of allchecks whereby no magnetic ink is permitted within the clear band;second, the ABA rules on check printing restrict embossment orimpression on the check surface and state that embossment should notexceed 0.001 inches; and third, the ANSI/ABA Paper Specifications forChecks states that paper-plastic combinations must not be used becausestrong static potential exists in processing documents of this naturedue to the plastic portion of the laminate.

The prior art holograms described above fail to meet the stringentrequirements with regard to check production as promulgated by the ABAand ANSI.

The ABA rules require a 5/8" clear band at the bottom of the checkbecause automated MICR reading equipment is very sensitive, and themagnetic ink has a very weak magnetic flux. Thus, the ABA enacted therules of check printing to protect the detectability of the MICRnumbers. Indeed, the clear band has become sacrosanct over the years,and while some checks have lightly printed backgrounds or the oldfashioned "basket weave" pattern in the clear band and travelers checksoffer a border of reduced size, generally this area has been off limitsto printers.

Moreover, the ABA rules on check printing set forth embossment(impression) standards whereby the embossment is not permitted to exceedthat which has a depth not more than 0.001. Prior methods of embossmentresult in embossments which exceed the ABA embossments standards forcheck printing.

The American National Standard, Paper Specifications for Checksspecifically states that paper-plastic combinations must not be usedbecause of the strong static potential which causes feeding problems inhigh speed sorting equipment. These paper specifications are necessaryfor the efficient handling of paper documents which must survive as manyas 30 passes through the sorting equipment.

The need thus exists to thwart the counterfeiting of checks and othersecure documents, and to provide a relatively inexpensive and practicalmethod which adheres to all ABA and ANSI standards governing checkdesign.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention provides a method of creating a security documentwhich not only virtually eliminates the chance of counterfeiting, butpasses the stringent ABA and ANSI standards of check production.Moreover, the present invention maintains a simplicity in form whileproviding an economical solution to current counterfeiting problems.

Specifically, the instant invention provides a holographic image in theform of a foil strip which is virtually impossible to counterfeit. Thefoil strip is formed with a metalized layer which does not disturb the5/8" clear band provided on the bottom of checks, the foil strip is sothin that it does not interfere with the reading head of optical readingequipment, and by omitting the plastic layer taught by the prior art,the foil strip meets the ANSI paper-plastic specifications for checkproduction.

Applicant has discovered that the optical strip of the inventionsatisfies the rules and regulations governing check design as set forthby the ABA while maintaining excellent optical properties necessary forsecurity documents. The optical image itself is cast into a varnish ofan oligomer about three micron in depth. Being aluminum, the reflectivefoil strip does not interfere with the magnetic check reading equipment;and being holographically reflective, the foil strip reads as "white" inthose instances where banks use optical reading equipment.

Therefore, the 5/8" clear band provided on checks is not disturbed bythe optical strip of the present invention. In addition, the applicationof the aluminum layer according to the present invention meets the ABAstandards for embossing. Moreover, applicant's customers have tested,thestriped checks set forth by the present invention for the ANSI/ABArequired 30 runs through sorting equipment and without exception haspassed with flying colors.

The foil strip of the instant invention is so very thin that it does notinterfere with the reading performance of optical reading equipmentwhich reads the MICR print. To the applicant's knowledge, only the foilstrip of the present invention has the attributes satisfying the rulesof check printing; thus allowing the foil strip to extend into the clearband.

Due to unique characteristics of the invention, its benefits are notlimited solely to checks, but encompass a wide variety of securitydocuments, i.e. currency, in which optical verification is paramount.

The following is a description of the invention which is not intended tolimit the scope of the invention but rather describe the preferredembodiment thereof. The description includes claims and drawings forminga part thereof.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 shows a block diagram of the method of the present invention.

FIG. 2 shows an example of a series of checks produced according to thepresent invention.

FIG. 3 is a check which adheres to the standard format as set forth byABA specifications and guidelines.

FIG. 4 shows a cross section of the cast foil material for checkstriping as set forth by the invention.

FIG. 5 illustrates the equipment used to perform the striping method ofthe invention.

FIG. 6 is a perspective view of the equipment shown in FIG. 5.

FIG. 7 is an illustration of a sheet of checks printed with an opticalstripe as described by the invention.

FIG. 8 illustrates a conventional hot stamping holographic foil.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

Referring to FIG. 1, in the process of the present invention, first aholographic image is embossed or casted onto a roll of foil in sheetform which is typically 30"-50" wide. The sheet of foil is then slitinto 1/2"-1/4" strips. The foil strips are then affixed onto the checksurface in an automated manner such that the foil strip is continuouslyrolled onto a series of checks. It is noted that the background of thecheck is printed on ordinary paper used for check writing, and that theprinting may occur before or after affixation of the foil strip. If thebackground information/design is printed after the foil strip isaffixed, the foil strip will carry the background image thus furtherenhancing security.

FIG. 2 illustrates an example of a series of checks printed through themethod described above whereby the background image is printed prior toaffixation of the, foil strip 21. Each check 10 of FIG. 2 comprises aclear band area 14 extending along its bottom width, and line holing 16for automated handling. The foil strip 21 extends across the series ofchecks 10 so as to form a continuous strip which is later perforatedwith the check so that the checks can be separated for individual use.

The standard format for paper checks as set forth by ABA specificationsand guidelines will now be described with reference to FIG. 3. As shownin FIG. 3, the check 10 is provided with three different fields definedby boundary lines 12. The transit number field A contains informationdescribing the routing information for electronic check processing. Theon us field B contains information describing the account information.The amount field C contains information describing the amount of thecheck.

Various dimensions are also set forth by the ABA, the most critical ofwhich for the purposes of this application is the clear band 14extending along the bottom of the check which must be at least 5/8 of aninch wide.

The foil described below begins as a foil sheet 20, is then slit intostrips 20' and affixed to paper 30. After being affixed to the paper 30,a polyester carrier 24 is removed to leave a foil stripe 21 on the papersubstrate.

With reference to FIG. 4, the preferred method of forming thepre-affixed foil sheet 20 is to cast a three-dimensional image 22 ofsuch fineness that the light diffracts (i.e. 800-900 lines to themillimeter, minimum) along with a unique pattern which can be identifiedby the viewer, for example as the logo of the issuer. The castingcomprises 3 microns of an oligomer 25 using a gravure type reversedoctor blade for uniformity of coating. The type of oligomer 25 used inthe preferred method may be the curable varnish "Radcoat #801", which iscommercially available from the Radcure Company, because it cures onpolyester but releases from it. The casting is to a polyester film 24 of1 mil without a corona treatment. If a corona treatment is used theoligomer will stick to the polyester and not transfer to the checkpaper.

After casting, the entire film 20 (30 plus inches wide) is metalizedwith aluminum (vacuum deposition is the preferred method) to a coatingdepth of generally one ohm (less than 1000 angstroms, most often about160 angstroms) to form a metalized film 26. This minimum layer ofaluminum provides sufficient reflectivity but minimizes the chances offlaking at the edges and thereby possibly gumming up the check readingequipment with flakes of aluminum.

The next step is to coat the metalized film 26 with a standard hot meltadhesive 28 (again, without a corona treatment). Then, the foil sheet 20is slit to obtain 1/4" to 1" foil strips 20'; the width depending on theprinting requirements. The slitting can be either a pancake form or,better, a traverse roll. The slitting equipment is standard andavailable commercially, although the practice of slitting requiresskill.

After the foil strips 20' are manufactured, the major problem is toprovide a method for adhering it to the paper. There are no standardpieces of equipment to do, this for document striping. In the preferredmode the check striping material is not, strictly speaking, a hotstamping foil. It is a unique and far more simpler construction and, forthat reason less expensive. As shown in FIG. 4 and described above, thelaminate or foil strip 20' consists of the polyester film carrier 24without a release coat; merely adhered by the formulation of theoligomer 25 to the polyester, the embossing 22 (less than a quartermicron on average), the metalization 26 and adhesive 28.

The equipment built to lay in the check stripe material to the documentsurface will be described with reference to FIG. 5. The equipment 40consists of an unwind stand 42 for the rolls of raw paper 30 and arewind stand 44 for receiving the striped paper 60 with the foil stripe21 affixed thereto. The raw paper 30 is transferred from the unwindstand 42 to the rewind stand 44 through laydown and takeup spools, 46and 48, respectively. The laydown spool 46 maintains a roll of thecheckstripe material 20'. The takeup spool 48 receives the releasedpolyester carrier 24 which is removed from the laminate or foil strip20' after the strip 20' adheres to the paper 30.

In between the laydown and takeup spools 46, 48 are two rollers 50, 52;the top roller 50 is a heated roller and the bottom roller 52 a chilledroller. There are often additional sets of guiding rollers and, severalfeet past the chill roller 52, an additional chill roller 52' removesthe polyester carrier 24. It is noted that the distance X between theinitial adhesion of the check stripe material to the paper at rollers50, 52 and the second chill roller 52' which removes the polyestercarrier must be sufficient to allow adhesion to occur.

When the above equipment is utilized to lay down a strip 20' , theprinter is left with a striped paper roll 60 wound on the paper rewindroll 44 on which a number of 1/4" (nominally) stripes 21 of reflectiveholographic imaged material is affixed, in rows equal to the number-outof document to be eventually printed from the roll of paper 60.

The general layout of the above equipment in perspective view is shownin FIG. 6. In the preferred embodiment, a number of layout spools 46apply strips 20' to the raw paper 30 which pass between the top heatedroller 50 and the bottom chilled roller 52. For example, if the roll 30is 17" wide and it is expected there will be two rows of 81/2" checksprinted, then the two stripes will be (for example) 1"from the left edgeof the roll and another 91/2" from the left edge.

FIG. 7 illustrates the sheet of paper 60 with the optical stripes 21affixed thereto. The sheet 60 of FIG. 7 comprises checks 10 in rows offive whereby the printing is placed over the stripe 21. The checks 10are later singulated for conventional secure use.

The check paper is invariably 20# MICR bond (occasionally 24# MICR bond). Checks are often printed 2 across, but sometimes more. If they areprinted 4 out then one needs to stripe 4 stripes on the roll of paper.

The foregoing method of creating checks leads us to yet an even moreeconomical method based on the same principles of this invention: thatis to the paper maker itself. Here the idea is to introduce the checkstripe material before the paper is finished. It requires additionalrollers to lay in the check stripe material and take up equipment tospool up the carrier, however the temperatures at the head box in papermanufacturing (250°±) are consistent with the requirements forintroducing the check-striping material into the paper at that time, andthe converting equipment required is well within the paper manufacturersskills. The result will be the most economical method of check stripingyet devised.

It is axiomatic that the "striped" paper 60 can be handled in virtuallyany way non-striped paper can be handled. The oligomer is printreceptive and therefore can be placed in the middle of the check withthe MICR numbering printed directly over it.

In another example, the holographic foil may be rolled on over themagnetic numbering (which is usually the last printing on a check). Ithas been demonstrated the magnetically printed numbers will read throughthe striped foil 21 which is normally several hundred angstroms thickwithout significant loss of magnetic strength. (The reflectivemetalization in this case is preferably aluminum or other highreflective non magnetic metal.) This method produces an additionalsecurity benefit as follows: the 2 or 3 numbers hidden under theholographic stamp are unreadable except by magnetic reading and are thusunavailable to the counterfeiter. In practice it is probable the stripeshould cover only the beginning or bank I.D. #'s which are printed inmagnetic ink. Very rarely MICR character will not read (i.e., the inkwas wrong). In these cases, the bank hand encodes the misreading check.If an individual's account number is made invisible by being coveredover with the magnetic stripe and if the check printer has printed anaccount number which does not read, it will be difficult and timeconsuming to charge the check to the proper account. On the other hand,if only the bank identification number is covered, that is readilyavailable from various sources at the bank and will provide no greatproblem (besides the bank address is generally also printed on thecheck).

A side benefit to this invention is that instead of using check paper,one can also use a bank note paper from which currency is made. If one"stripes" the bank note paper then, after sheeting the paper to size,one can use the paper in an intaglio press and print the paper. Oneunique benefit brought to the process by this invention is the thatoligomer (bereft of the carrier) has great resilience and resistance toscuffing and folding, but has virtually no substance and does not causea pile of bills to bulge. Thus, the striping provides ananti-counterfeiting feature of unusual strength at the least possibleadditional cost. Generally, in currency, there is a border around thebill or note and while there are no rules prohibiting a stripe throughthat border there is an aesthetic consideration which may inhibit theuse of this invention in currency. There is no such aestheticconsideration in the check industry. Price is the consideration inchecks and, while very important, secondary in the currency industry.

Given the manufacturing of the stripe by the methods outlined results inlarge volume at low cost and the ability to slit large volumes exists inthe market place, the development of striping equipment is the only barto the widespread use of this invention in the check market.

Many changes and modification in the above described embodiment of theinvention can of course be carried out without departing from the scopeof the invention. Accordingly, that scope is limited only by the scopeof the appended claims.

I claim:
 1. A method of producing a document for use as a negotiableinstrument having enhanced security against counterfeiting comprisingthe steps of:providing a document for use as a negotiable instrument,said substrate having a clear band extending along a bottom edge of saiddocument, said clear band having a depth of at least 5/8', said clearband being divided into at least three information fields, whereby afirst transit-number field is adapted to receive magnetic informationdescribing routing information for electronic processing of saiddocument, a second on-us field is adapted to receive magneticinformation describing account information, and a third amount field isadapted to receive magnetic information describing said specifiedamount; forming a three dimensional light diffracting image on anoptical strip; continuously rolling said strip onto a surface of saiddocument from a top edge to said bottom edge, wherein said strip isaffixed to said surface of said document; printing on said surface ofsaid document, wherein a printed image overlies a common portion of saidsurface with said strip, said image extending beyond a boundary of saidstrip onto an additional portion of said surface of said document. 2.The method recited in claim 1, wherein said step of forming includes thestep of casting said light diffracting image onto a layer of oligomer.3. The method recited in claim 1 further including the step of printinga background image onto said surface before affixing said strip.
 4. Themethod recited in claim 1 further including the step of cutting saidstrip into a strip of smaller width.
 5. The method recited in claim 1wherein said step of continuously rolling includes the step of affixingsaid strip to a series of said document surfaces.
 6. The method recitedin claim 5 wherein a portion of said strip remains affixed to eachdocument surface of said series of said document surfaces after saiddocuments are separated one from the other.
 7. The method recited inclaim 1, wherein said step of forming said light diffracting imagecomprises casting a light diffracting optically variable device onto aplastic carrier, creating a metalized side by applying a metallic layerto said optically variable device, and applying a heat set adhesive tosaid metalized side, wherein said plastic carrier is removed before saidstep of printing.
 8. The method according to claim 7, wherein saidplastic carrier comprises a layer of oligomer.
 9. A method of producinga check having enhanced security against counterfeiting comprising thesteps of:providing a substrate, said substrate having a clear bandextending along a bottom edge of said document, said clear band having adepth of at least 5/8", said clear band being divided into at leastthree information fields, whereby a first transit-number field isadapted to receive information describing a routing information forelectronic processing of said document, a second on-us field is adaptedto receive information describing account information, and a thirdamount field is adapted to receive information describing said specifiedamount; forming a three dimensional light diffracting image on anoptical strip; printing magnetic information onto at least a portion ofsaid clear band; and continuously rolling said strip onto said surfaceof said check base wherein said strip is affixed to said surface of saidcheck base, said strip being positioned to extend from a top edge of thecheck to a bottom edge of the check and through said clear band.
 10. Themethod recited in claim 9 further comprising the step of printing onsaid surface of said check across said strip, wherein a printed image ispositioned on said strip.
 11. The method recited in claim 9 wherein saidmagnetic information extends over a portion of said strip.
 12. Themethod recited in claim 9 wherein said strip is positioned to overlay aportion of said magnetic information.
 13. The method recited in claim 9,wherein said step of forming said light diffracting image comprisescasting a light diffracting optically variable device onto a plasticcarrier, creating a metalized side by applying a metallic layer to saidoptically variable device, and applying a heat set adhesive to saidmetalized side.
 14. The method recited in claim 13, wherein said step ofaffixing said strip to said surface comprises applying a heated pressureroller to said strip, and removing said plastic carrier.
 15. A method ofproducing a check having enhanced security against counterfeitingcomprising the steps of:providing a substrate adapted for use as acheck, said substrate having a clear band extending along a bottom edgeof said document, said clear band having a depth of at least 5/8", saidclear band being divided into at least three information fields, wherebya first transit-number field is adapted to receive magnetic informationdescribing routing information for electronic processing of saiddocument, a second on-us field is adapted to receive magneticinformation describing account information, and a third amount field isadapted to receive magnetic information describing said specifiedamount; forming a three dimensional light diffracting image on anoptical strip; continuously rolling said strip onto a surface of saidcheck wherein said strip is affixed to said surface of said check, saidstrip being positioned to extend from a top edge of the check to abottom edge of the check and through a portion of said clear band; andprinting an image onto said surface of said check, wherein a firstportion of said image is printed on said strip, and a second portion ofsaid image is printed on said surface of said check.
 16. The methodrecited in claim 15 wherein said each of said three information fieldscomprises magnetic information.
 17. The method recited in claim 15,wherein said step of affixing said strip to said surface comprisesapplying a heated pressure roller to said strip, and removing a plasticcarrier.
 18. The method recited in claim 17, wherein said substrate ispaper.
 19. The method recited in claim 15, wherein said step of formingsaid three dimensional light diffracting image comprises casting a lightdiffracting optically variable device onto a plastic carrier, creating ametalized side by applying a metallic layer to said optically variabledevice, and applying a heat set adhesive to said metalized side, whereinsaid plastic carrier is removed before said step of printing.
 20. Themethod recited in claim 19, wherein said step of affixing said strip tosaid surface comprises applying a heated pressure roller to said strip,and removing said plastic carrier.